Make The Clock Rewind

“Is that so?” Well in a way Chika had every reason to be happy considering his brother made it home safe and sound and now they lay in bed together following Souta admitting he’s letting go of all his grudges. Those years were touch, being without his brother but when he was around he was the best brother anyone could ask for and that comes from the bottom of his heart. “I remember…” The sentimentalism is hitting him and now he can’t help himself any longer. “I was a little penguin and I whenever I saw you coming into the garden where we and Rize use to play. I would run over to use and you use to put flowers in my hair. A memory I kept dear to me.” His chance is hear and now it’s time for honesty and he can only hope Chika is mindful enough to do the same. “

It made me feel so loved and wanted. I use to sit by the entrance…waiting for you to come in and grace us with your presence. I remembered one day…” He can’t contain his smile any longer, even as the tears are gathering in his eyes. “…I remember you bought Itsuki along and he mistaken me for a girl because my hair was a little longer and I wore dresses a lot. You told him to put a flower in my hair and he did. I will never forget that day. I was so happy, even when I had no reason to.”

He knows he’s crying now but he needs Chika to understand. If there’s ever any chance for him to fully forgive his brother then everything needs to come out and hopefully Chika will understand. “Now y-you see why it hurt me so much when you stop coming. It’s like I lost everyone when you left. Rize grew distant and she left before my 10th birthday. I had mother but…she only left me in pain. No matter how much she told me she loved me…she hated me twice as much and I still have the scars to prove it. That’s what you don’t know but I didn’t think you would care either way because…you hated me too and to hell with my mother, your sister.”

He can’t be stopped and at this point he’s sitting up just to make sure Chika sees how much he’s been hurting. Maybe…everything will make sense this way. “You want to know why I’m angry all the time. You want to know why I lash out all the time. Mother taught me that. She was always angry and she made sure I knew…so you can imagine how that went. That shit’s in my blood but unlike my DNA I can take it out and stomp it to death. Unlike mother, I have someone to love…someone who loves me back and I am going to do better. She’s dead now so I have no reason to be like her and I’m done destroying everything in my sight. I’m going to be better than her…our father….all of you. Watch me! Fuck whoever think I’m a lost cost!”

“Don’t worry about telling me that. Of course I know where my brother is at this time.” Leave it to Maru to be so adorable and direct about everything, even as Souta is turning the charm up. Even still, he’s still trying to fathom where the sudden coldness is coming from. Had he already came off on the wrong foot? Ohhh not good…not good at all.

“Hey hey hey. No need to be so cold.” Souta frowns, dramatically waving his hands in his face. “I know you know my twin well so I thought I should introduce myself since you might be seeing a lot of me.” Souta can clearly see something is off about Itsuki but the answer is beyond obvious. Even still, his soul gem never budged, only deepening the mystery.

“Oh, looks like the lesson started. We’ll talk afterwards.” Just because the original plan is scrapped doesn’t mean his others are abandoned.

Rize heads back into her bedroom and when she stops inside she a relived to see the babies fast asleep, because there’s nothing harder than getting them back to sleep after a nightmare. “Sliding into her side of the bed she shoots them one last glance before sleep finally overtakes her.

Rize-nee, Rize-nee, Rize-nee…

There’s something hitting her in the face continuously and she can’t tell whether it’s a a dream or otherwise. Her eyes flutter open, only to see a small hand launching towards her face. She grabs it before it can land on her face but by the time she realizes what’s happening she’s met with the sudden weight of Chika who’s sitting on her legs with a blank expression while Souta continues to slap her on the face in an attempt to get her attention.

"What are you doing?”

Rize, while trying to hide her annoyance casts a glance towards her brother just to see what he wants. “Souta…what is it?” She asks again, this time with firmness in her tone. “Uhhh me and Chika…” Souta, who’s left with one arm thanks to Rize grabbing the other one tries to figure out what to say, only for Chika to interject. “We wanted you to wake up. Can we go to the park?”

There are no words to describe how tired she is. It’s almost as if as soon as she closed her eyes her brothers are now waking her up. Now they are demanding she jumps up and take them to the park. Rize is beyond tired and now in the mood. She hates to do this but she’s left with no choice.

“I’m sorry but not today. Maybe tomorrow?”

Chika, now frowning is moving closer. “But Rize-nee…”

“I’m sorry Chika. I’m tired and I want to rest.”

“Please Rize-nee.” Souta suddenly jumps in to back Chika, which basically means they will stop at nothing until she changes her mind.

“Please please please. Pretty please pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee.”

Rize can’t even hear herself think anymore. Why can’t they understand she’s also human, furthermore a young woman with the entire world on her shoulders. She needed Kishou, no she needs father. Kishou is right, they can’t continue to play mother and father to their brothers. They have a mother and a father and neither are around to do their duties as parents. She’s at the end of the rope. She love them with all her heart but for God’s sake she’s burnt out.

“DID YOU NOT HEAR ME SAY I’M TIRED!!!!???”

Rize can’t remembered the last time she screamed so loud. That’s not the shocking part however. By the time it sinks in, the twins are already running out the room crying for Kishou while screaming how scared they are. “Oh my god. What have I done? No no no no. Souta, Chika, wait come back!”

By the time she gets to her door, she’s already sinking to her knees and within seconds she’s sobbing.

He shoots a glance at the window and surely enough it’s late, although his lethargy could have told him that had he listened. Still, he’s sad to see little Touka go, especially as they were bonding so well. It sparked something in him, breeding that longing for a little one to call his own.

“I want to thank everyone here for your hospitality.” Turning away, he walks beside his boyfriend hand in hand. Before entering the flat, he’s shocked by the question but also eager to answer it. “Yes I do. I always wanted children and now I have that chance. I want to give them everything I never had. I know you will be a great father and so will aniki.”

The more he thinks about it the more exciting it is. Having little ones running around the room while Souta cooks them their favorite meals. Reading them their favorite bedtime stories before tucking them in. Most importantly, giving them all the love and support they deserve. He will be the mother he never had, as well as the father he never had. With the addition of Itsuki and Chika, it only makes it even better. “I can’t wait to spend our first real night together…as a couole.”

“Yoshitoki huh?” If only she knew how much he loathed hearing that name. No matter how much he tries nothing in this world will ever erase his boyfriend’s memory of his past lover. Granted, he can simply let it go and be happy with what he got but it’s never that easy, well at least not for Yoshitoki’s little brother.

Thank god she changed the subject, otherwise he would have said something he’d regret. “I’ll keep that in mind.” The irony of this is that his ghoulishness is no match against his cooking skills. Once upon a time, he was a human…well half at least. Cooking became a good stress reliever for him and now it’s apart of him so Itsuki has nothing to worry about in that regard.

“I will make sure he eats good, but also healthy.” His voice, firm but also holding a lightheartness to it. “I love your uncle and I will do everything in my power to take good care of him.”

Souta knows how flustered his boyfriend is at the moment but unfortunately he can’t bring himself to care all that much. He can’t help that Itsuki looks so irresistible when he’s sitting on him, dick plunged so deep inside him he can feel his heartbeat.

“Don’t you dare play that card on me,” he smirks, suddenly thrusting his hips up against his sweet spot. “This is not the first time you rode me and it won’t be the last. Me and you both know how much you like being on top of me.” To emphasize his point, his hand lands on his ass, fingers kneading into the flesh until imprints are left behind on his near perfect skin.

“If you impress me enough…I may let you sit on my face.”

That’s the problem isn’t it? As much as he loves to deny it Souta is as stubborn as they come and it’s exactly why it took him so long to finally forgive him brother. It feels to good to finally let the past go. Chika hurt him deeply but not intentionally. In a way he was so tired of authority figures abusing the young and vulnerable that perhaps he needed to take his anger out on someone. Chika is as much of a victim as him and he must remember that.

“I want to work it out with Itsuki. I want to be with him. Ughhhhh, relationships are so hard.” He can’t help but chuckle and after pulling back to cast a gaze at him, his smile only widens further. “I hope he’s okay. What happened for him to be so angry? Ah I don’t even think it matters anymore.”

Once again Souta feels sharp pain around his head, which forces him to lay back down on his pillow before smashing the other pillow over his face. This hangover is going to be the death of him and one thing’s for certain…he won’t be drinking alcohol any time soon, if ever. “Um sorry for the weird question but can you lay down next to me. I just want to spend time with aniki today.”

Meanwhile in the library,

Souta took the time to do a little research on soul gems and their unique characteristics. The majority of his search only lead to facts he already knew about since he, along with his brother went through the same thing. They start off pure and then some bullshit invades, throwing them into despair, tainting and ultimately corrupting their gems to the point of witch territory.

“Oh look at that, nostalgia huh?” Ah it’s so gross just to think about it. Nothing about his life was pretty and it’s a miracle he’s still sane after all this. It came at the cost of basic human emotions but maybe it’s for the best because it only represents vulnerability and Souta most definitely is no vulnerable man.

He checks his watch, only to see his class starting soon. With a sigh, he signs off, grabbing his belongings and exiting the library towards his class. When he arrives, his gaze is casted towards the main reason he gives a shit about soul gems in the first place. A smirk is cracked over his lips as he walks towards before sitting in the vacant seat next to him. “Itsuki Marude right? It’s good to see you again.”

“It’s okay. That’s all I need.” Rize felt a lot better now that they were able to talk like this but what Kishou brings up next brings about heavy concern. “Hopefully Chika feels better once he wakes up but I have medicine in case he doesn’t. Papa huh?” She wants to hate that man but more than anything she wants him to step up and be a father dammit. Why have unwanted kids in the first place?

“I am proud of you for taking the initiative,” she smiles, patting his head. “I really hope he answers and at least try to work with us.” It’s so frustrating because why are they doing this? Their father should be in the house doing his best to care for his children. Why are his children being the ones to stick their necks out just to get his attention?

“You got my support,” she reassures him before giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead. “We are the future of this wretched family. We have what it takes to not be like the prior generations. Me, you, Souta, Chika, we will prove to our father we are better than him and unlike him…we have a heart and we are family.”

It was unexpected but it’s not like he minds one bit and in fact it gave him a sense of calm as she nuzzles close to him. Suddenly there’s singing, forcing everyone to turn their attention towards the source of the sound, only too see it’s Souta singing a lullaby while Touka naps on his lap.

He can’t fully explain why he did and it’s not like he needed to since it wasn’t like she was in a state of distress or even asked for it. The best he can say is that it was on reflex, something deep within his subconscious that just compelled him to sing to her. It’s not all that new as his mother did the same thing. Granted, she wasn’t the best but her maternal instincts never faded and in essences Souta inherited them.

“Oh wow.” Finally realizing what he did, Souta cannot help but feel a little embarrassed as a dark shade of red dusts his cheeks. “Quite the firecracker, just like me but an innocent little girl with a big heart and unlimited dreams. It’s weird because she’s not even my daughter not does she carry any blood relation to me but I just have this urge to protect her and guide her as she learns more about the world around her. Please don’t take it the wrong way because I don’t want to intrude.”

It’s funny how Itsuki’s grandmother brings up children following this. His childhood was…well horrible and it’s not all that farfetch to assume someone like Souta would never ever consider having children of his own and yet it’s the opposite. Ironically, his trauma gave him more of a reason to want children of his own. There’s this yearning to give them a life he never had. Unfortunately, he must be realistic about this. Just because he want this does not mean it’s something Itsuki and Chika wants.

That’s what makes this even more heartbreaking.

Souta wanted to protest but he knows better than to defy the orders of the nurse. Therefore, he follows Ji-Yoon out of the room and when she brings up lunch he can’t help but chuckle at the little joke she threw his way because in a way it’s true. Furthermore, Itsuki’s condition turned him off from eating any time soon since his hunger is exactly why this happened.

“Hmmm it’s nothing wrong with some coffee but I do agree we should get him some food. I’m sure he’s starving right now.” Souta, albeit making conversation with her cannot fully relax around her since they are enemies in a way. Unwillingly yes but at the same time he nearly killed someone close to her and that’s not something that can easily be forgiven.

“I know I sound like a broken record but…” Who would have thought watching someone cry would excite such emotions within him. He was not supposed to care dammit. People are stupid and worthless and can only appreciate life once they experience death and yet he’s falling deeper and deeper into their world. He’s feeling things, human emotions. It’s bothersome, but also natural. Souta experienced death via Itsuki. Therefore, it’s time to live.

Souta buries his face into his lover’s neck while slowly thrusting into him in a steady motion. Speed is not always everything as he prefers taking some time on Itsuki, making sure he feels how his dick twitches every time it brushes up against his sweet spot.

“Itsuki, fuck.” Souta wraps both arms around him before flipping them over so that his boyfriend his sitting on his lap while his dick is still securely inside. “I want you to ride my dick so I can see what you can do with it.”

Souta was so fixated on his new target that he forgot they still had human duties to do. Moreover, if there’s any chance to get Itsuki on their side then it would be a not so bad idea to…get to know his life a little better. There’s no denying that little kitsune will be a sharp thorn on their side but they hold more power and influence any day.

“Oh look at the time. I have class in less than ten minutes.” Souta gently taps his watch, a smirk dancing along his lips as his gaze is shifted back towards the little cutie. “Well I will leave you to do your thing. If you need me you know how to reach me. Oh and Koori…” The servant peers up at his master, wearing an expression of wonder. “Make sure to gather any Intel you can find on him. This one is unique and I won’t let him slip through our fingers.”

Souta walks through campus with a bored expression painted across his features. He happens to look through his peripheral, only to see his twin work his charm on the magical girl and not too shabby. It’s already to a good start but at the end of the day his main focus is that soul gem and its peculiar nature.

“When’s the last time I felt genuine excitement? Actually…when’s the last time I felt anything?”

Well that confirms the fragment of his memory that features HySy but Souta can’t help but assume a lot more happened than what Chika is letting on. Souta sits back in silence while his brother gives him a recap. “Itsuki did what?” It’s one thing that he came to pick them up but for him to actually attack the HYSY people… Why did he feel his heart skipping a beat just thinking about it?

“Aniki…” his gaze casts towards Chika as his frown deepens. “I use to have no value for my life and if I had my way i’d be dead. I needed you when I was little but I needed a lot of people so putting all the blame on you is ridiculous. You are the only one who apologized and made it up to me.” It felt so good to say that to his brother but that’s not all he wants to say but that can come later.

Chika brings up his relationship with Itsuki and his heart sinks. They broke up and while he’s trying his hardest to accept that it’s over between them, he can’t but wonder…what if? “Me and Itsuki are no longer together and while I don’t want to give him the satisfaction I need him or something I can’t help but love him more and more. I don’t want to believe it’s over forever but let’s be real here…I was horrible to him. I was an angry, insecure, jealous, and arrogant brat…an asshole if you want to be specific. I don’t even know how to go about it.”

Even still, Souta can’t bring himself to give up. He knows that if he put his mind to it then he can work something out and maybe…just maybe I will get back on his side. “I want to make him happy you know.“ His gaze is now casted on his blanket. "I want to be happy like you.”

Before he forgets, what he says next will change Chika and Souta’s relationship forever. “Aniki I want you to know I forgive you. From this day forward I will never hold the past over your head again. You are an amazing brother and…you might fall off the bed when I say this since it’s been so long but aniki…I love you and I’m so happy to be your little star again.”

Rize is currently delighted to see Kishou finally speaking up. It’s what she has wanted for so long because while she’s been the more vocal about their home situation, Kishou…not to much. However, while she understands where’s he’s coming from it’s not entirely the answer she’s seeking.

“I am not asking you to be their father. Never once did I ask for that because as you can see they already have one…a deadbeat who believes money and vanity will win him our love. All I am asking is for you to contribute just a little more. If it was only one then I wouldn’t be here talking to you about this but we have two of them and we need to give them the equal distribution of the love and care they need. We don’t need to be their parents to do that.”

Rize makes sure to keep her voice at a appropriate volume, not just to make sure the twins won’t wake up but also to make sure Kishou didn’t suspect she was angry. Stressed? Guilty as charged but never will she use that as an excuse to be angry at Kishou because at the end of the day…they are only teenagers….extremely tired and aggravated teenagers.

“I hate to say this but I might kill a man just to bring their mother back. I love them so much but I can’t… I’m only 18 and I feel like I’m pushing 38. This is why I need you to step up a little more. We shouldn’t be doing this. Souta and Chika deserve loving and stable parents. We all deserve that.”

“Sure!” There’s no way he would ever say no to a little girl. Also, if there’s anyway he can get a lifetime supply of plushies from Itsuki then staying on Touka’s good side is key. “As soon as I finish eating I will play with you. How does that sound?” He did steal her future husband so it’s the least he can do.

His meal is suddenly interrupted by the chuckle that unexpectedly leaves him following Touka’s comment. Granted, he might understand why Itsuki may feel a little self conscious about his age. Luckily for him, Souta got a few tricks up his sleeve and hopefully it will help to get some of that youth back.

He watches in awe as the family works together as dinner comes to a close. This is nothing like the dinners at his home where it’s most his father (successfully manipulating) putting on a show for his guests, thus solidifying their aristocratic reputation among the Japanese political echelon. There lies no unity, no warmth, and most importantly no love. Family and unity is everything to the Marude family and now his new surname breeds pride instead of shame.

“Trust me I know.” Souta carried that name for over 20 years now. It carried so much power and yet it left so much destruction in its path. He’s a Washuu and he’s trouble so…no surprise there. “Trouble and stubborn. Sounds like a power couple don’t you think?”

Today was alone was more than enough of a tearjerker to supply him for the next 10 years. Not too long ago, Itsuki stood by the door to death, his soul pondering whether or not to take that leap. One move…one move would have sealed his fate but luckily life dragged him back right where he belongs. Sure there’s pain to endure but that’s the energy of life flowing through his veins.

“I love you too.” It felt so good to say that in confidence. Not only did Itsuki initiate it but the genuinity in his tone sparked something in his heart that can’t be undone. This is the overwhelming force of love. This is why people love so strongly isn’t it?

“I love you so much. I love you with all my heart. You really are changing me. I am not supposed to feel this and yet I do.”